G
Guest
Guest
It was the night before Christmas and I sat at the helm, enjoying the bad weather in a deep ocean realm.
My coffee was freezing, my breath was cold mist, I took a quick glance at the watch on my wrist. "A whole nother hour of watch time for me, alone in the dark with the wind and the sea.”
My wife and children were snug down below, but I sat in the cold and watched the waves grow.
When off in the distance I saw a bright light, another vessel I thought, out here on this night.
I checked on the radar, no vessel appeared and I thought to myself "this is something weird" I kept a keen watch not sure what to do, when I realised what I saw simply could not be true!
For up in the sky in the clouds dark and thick, four giant sea horses, a sledge and Saint Nick!
Though the wind was quite fierce and the waves tall and grand, they appeared to be looking for a spot they could land!
They circled my main mast and I thought what the heck, they made a good landing on my windward deck.
The four sea horses wrapped their tails round stanchions and mast to hold Saint Nick’s sleigh to a spot that held fast.
Then jolly St Nick jumped out of his sleigh and holding the handrails he was coming my way.
With red oilie trousers, seaboots and hat and a Helly Hanson jacket that did not make him look too fat.
Not how I had ever pictured St Nick to be but it made sense out here in the sea.
He sat down in my wet cockpit and over his back I noticed he carried a waterproof sack.
He let the sack rest on the cockpit floor, he noticed my coffee and asked, “Is there more?” "Yes down in a Thermos in the galley. If you’re going below would you get some for me? ""Of course" he exclaimed and flew down the hatch with a style and a grace even I cannot match.
I saw him take presents out his sack, then he poured two mugs of coffee and made us a snack!
Then he came back on deck with a smile on his face, gave me my coffee and said "You have nice place!. Well maybe not here in the cold windy air but down below decks this girl is quite fair!
Not to mention fine kids and a wonderful wife, compared to most landlubbers you've got an excellent life.
But other than coffee what can I give you? ""Oh I don't want anything but I’ve a quick question or two. I've never heard of this get up... The sea horses and sleigh... Frankly I was quite shocked to see you coming my way!" "Well, this sleigh I have reserved for the sea and those mighty sea horses are as brave as can be.
Why, they will charge towards a breaking wave or a blue water gale. They can land on any boat, power or sail.
For children out here are quite special to me. There are lots of landlubbers but few kids at sea! I try to bring something although their lockers are so small... I can't bring them presents too large or too tall. Instead I bring them books or games they can play or imaginative toys that will brighten their day. Sometimes I bring them new swimming clothes or a comfortable stuffed animal for when the gale blows. Then before I depart over every each boat, I spray magic dust that will keep their home afloat, and protect my fair sailors and each family that spends her days sailing upon the great sea." He gave me a wink and made his way to the bow, and I wondered where Saint Nick was off to now. As he took off I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, " Fair winds, fair seas and a very good night!"
-{)>
My coffee was freezing, my breath was cold mist, I took a quick glance at the watch on my wrist. "A whole nother hour of watch time for me, alone in the dark with the wind and the sea.”
My wife and children were snug down below, but I sat in the cold and watched the waves grow.
When off in the distance I saw a bright light, another vessel I thought, out here on this night.
I checked on the radar, no vessel appeared and I thought to myself "this is something weird" I kept a keen watch not sure what to do, when I realised what I saw simply could not be true!
For up in the sky in the clouds dark and thick, four giant sea horses, a sledge and Saint Nick!
Though the wind was quite fierce and the waves tall and grand, they appeared to be looking for a spot they could land!
They circled my main mast and I thought what the heck, they made a good landing on my windward deck.
The four sea horses wrapped their tails round stanchions and mast to hold Saint Nick’s sleigh to a spot that held fast.
Then jolly St Nick jumped out of his sleigh and holding the handrails he was coming my way.
With red oilie trousers, seaboots and hat and a Helly Hanson jacket that did not make him look too fat.
Not how I had ever pictured St Nick to be but it made sense out here in the sea.
He sat down in my wet cockpit and over his back I noticed he carried a waterproof sack.
He let the sack rest on the cockpit floor, he noticed my coffee and asked, “Is there more?” "Yes down in a Thermos in the galley. If you’re going below would you get some for me? ""Of course" he exclaimed and flew down the hatch with a style and a grace even I cannot match.
I saw him take presents out his sack, then he poured two mugs of coffee and made us a snack!
Then he came back on deck with a smile on his face, gave me my coffee and said "You have nice place!. Well maybe not here in the cold windy air but down below decks this girl is quite fair!
Not to mention fine kids and a wonderful wife, compared to most landlubbers you've got an excellent life.
But other than coffee what can I give you? ""Oh I don't want anything but I’ve a quick question or two. I've never heard of this get up... The sea horses and sleigh... Frankly I was quite shocked to see you coming my way!" "Well, this sleigh I have reserved for the sea and those mighty sea horses are as brave as can be.
Why, they will charge towards a breaking wave or a blue water gale. They can land on any boat, power or sail.
For children out here are quite special to me. There are lots of landlubbers but few kids at sea! I try to bring something although their lockers are so small... I can't bring them presents too large or too tall. Instead I bring them books or games they can play or imaginative toys that will brighten their day. Sometimes I bring them new swimming clothes or a comfortable stuffed animal for when the gale blows. Then before I depart over every each boat, I spray magic dust that will keep their home afloat, and protect my fair sailors and each family that spends her days sailing upon the great sea." He gave me a wink and made his way to the bow, and I wondered where Saint Nick was off to now. As he took off I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, " Fair winds, fair seas and a very good night!"
-{)>
